EngineerConnect Perth: Lessons & Innovations that Shaped the Year

A Panel Discussion on This Year’s Key Engineering Insights, Breakthroughs and Future-Ready Skills.

Join us for an engaging panel discussion at EngineerConnect Perth, where industry leaders will reflect on the key lessons learned and innovations that have shaped engineering throughout the year. Whether you’re an established professional or an aspiring engineer, this event offers valuable insights into current trends and future directions in engineering.

Our expert panel, moderated by Indu, will share real-world experiences, discuss breakthroughs and highlight practical takeaways to help you stay ahead in your career.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, 10th December
• Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
• Location: EIT Perth Campus, 6 Thelma Street, West Perth, WA, 6005

Please RSVP by Wednesday 3rd December 2025. Places are limited.

What to Expect:

• A panel discussion with leading industry experts. 
• Connect with like-minded professionals and expand your professional circle.
• Indulge in canapes while you network and discuss the latest developments in the engineering landscape.

Attendance at this technical event may be eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours with Engineers Australia, in accordance with their CPD guidelines.

A digital Certificate of Attendance will be provided after the event.

Panelists:

Leading the panel discussion is Indumathi V, EIT’s Deputy Dean

Indumathi V is an experienced Chartered Professional Engineer with over 20 years in electrical and electronics engineering, education and leadership. Holding a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, a Graduate Diploma in Education and an MBA, Indumathi is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Management. Passionate about empowering women and girls in STEM, she actively mentors and is pursuing a Ph.D. focusing on data analytics in education using EEG sensors.

Jillian Formentin, Head of Engineering APAC West at Wood | Australian Professional Engineer of the Year 2024

Jillian Formentin is a relationship-driven engineering leader in the energy sector, known for delivering complex projects safely, ethically, and on time through the strength of connected, capable teams. As Head of Engineering for Wood across WA, NT, and Asia, she leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions, drawing on a career that spans mining, infrastructure, and energy.

Named Australian Professional Engineer of the Year (2024), Jillian also serves as a Governance Board Director for the Engineering Institute of Technology, where she champions leadership, professional development, and the advancement of engineering practice.

Brent Burgess, Senior Principal Technologist at WSP Australia | Engineers Australia WA Division Committee Member

Brent Burgess, a Chartered Engineering Associate, is a Structural Engineering Drafting and Modelling Specialist with over 25 years of experience across projects from private developments to large-scale transport infrastructure. He has pioneered the development of custom AutoCAD and Revit tools, streamlining workflows and enhancing efficiency in design delivery.

With expertise in parametric design and computational workflows, Brent is recognized for solving complex technical challenges and advancing digital innovation in engineering. His work is highly regarded across industry partnerships and collaborative projects.

Kieran Rutter, Network Manager at Perth Airport | Chartered Electrical Engineer | Engineers Australia WA Division Committee Member

Kieran Rutter is a Chartered Electrical Engineer with expertise spanning utilities, telecommunications and large-scale power distribution. As Network Manager at Perth Airport, he is responsible for the strategic development of one of Western Australia’s largest 22kV embedded networks—overseeing standardisation, modelling and load flow analysis, stakeholder engagement and supplier management.

Kieran has worked with major utilities across WA, NSW and QLD, bringing extensive knowledge in both underground and overhead distribution design. He also serves on the Engineers Australia WA Division Committee, contributing to advocacy initiatives and the Energy Transition Working Group.

Dr. Zahra Jabiri, Head of Power Operations – On Grid at APA Group | Energy & Asset Management Strategist

Dr. Zahra Jabiri is a senior leader in the energy and infrastructure sector, with over 20 years of experience driving transformational change across complex organisations. As Head of Power Operations – On Grid at APA, Zahra is responsible for the end-to-end performance and operation of electricity assets connected to both the National Electricity Market (NEM) and the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM). She leads the management of a diverse, high-value portfolio of assets across multiple states, supported by a national team of engineers, technicians, and operational experts enabling the energy transition.

Zahra spearheads initiatives aligned with state and federal Energy Transformation and Decarbonisation Strategies, integrating engineering, policy, and regulatory frameworks to deliver sustainable, commercially sound outcomes. A passionate advocate for diversity, collaboration, and community engagement, Zahra is committed to building inclusive, high-performing teams and fostering innovation in energy and infrastructure delivery.

This event is supported by Engineers Australia

Who is EIT?

The Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) provides practical education and training in engineering and technology, with most graduates in fulfilling and well-paid engineering jobs.

EIT offers excellence across its professional development courses, and in its Australian internationally accredited diplomas and advanced diplomas, bachelor and master degrees, and a professional Doctor of Engineering.

The engineering lecturers and instructors, most with considerable industry experience and a passion for teaching, are drawn from around the world.

The live and interactive online platform of learning (with access to remote and virtual labs) reaches students in over 160 countries.

The degrees are also available on campus in Australia, using a blended approach to learning.

If you have any questions, please contact Pippa Dold: pippa.dold@eit.edu.au

We look forward to seeing you there.